Backcountry Essentials
By Chris Hansen

As with anything that eventually achieves main-stream status, there is almost always a counter-revolution trying to take it back to its roots. Such is the case with snowboarding, and those roots originally took hold in the backcountry. Whether it's the eternal search for fresh snow, skyrocketing lift-ticket prices or the main-stream's desire for a hip, new venue, backcountry snowboarding is quickly becoming all the rage.

Getting into the backcountry can be as simple as hiking out of bounds for some untracked powder or as involved as a multi-day tour, but most do it one day at a time. Assuming you have the proper equipment for snowboarding at the area, there are only a few essential items a snowboarder must acquire for the backcountry.

Your first step into the backcountry should be superseded by another life-saving step: take an avalanche course. It will get you ready for the backcountry, introducing you to aspects of the outdoors and snow characteristics you may not have considered before. A good course will familiarize you with the proper equipment and how to use it. It may also introduce you to some prospective backcountry partners.

The clothing you wear is the first key to comfort and survival in the backcountry. Some fashion-oriented snowboard clothing just won't cut it in less-than-desirable conditions. Dress in layers and use clothing that insulates well and dries quickly. Loosely translated: No Cotton! The simplest effective combination is usually polypropylene underwear and an insulating layer of pile covered with a waterproof/breathable shell.

The item that will take most effort to buy is the backpack. There are many excellent packs on the market within a broad price range. The optimum pack should carry your board secure and stable, allow enough room (but not too much room) for essential items, and fit and carry comfortably enough to use all day. Research them carefully and pick the right pack for you, because if carrying your board and all your stuff is a painful event, you probably won't enjoy your backcountry experience to the fullest.

Now that you have a pack, what to carry inside? On any trip into the backcountry the common list of ten essentials is a good place to start. According to the fifth edition of Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills by The Mountaineers, they are as follows:

1. Map

2. Compass

3. Flashlight/headlamp w/ spare bulbs and batteries

4. Extra Food

5. Extra clothing

6. Sunglasses

7. First-aid supplies

8. Pocket-knife

9. Matches in waterproof container

10. Fire starter

Although you probably won't need all of these items on every trip, you'll be glad you had them in a time of need. Three other items they mention but do not include as essential (though you may use them more than the essentials) are extra water and water bottles, sunscreen and a small repair kit. The repair kit can be as simple as a screwdriver, extra binding hardware and some duct tape.

Every turn in the backcountry is probably equal to several hundred steps you took to get up the hill. But how to travel? With the board on your back, you'll have to walk up the hill in your boots or using snowshoes. The boots I'm sure you have, but the snowshoes you'll have to buy. Passable shoes are available for as little as $40. A good pair will cost anywhere from $100 to $200 or more.

But wait, there is another option. There are two backcountry-specific boards on the market that split lengthwise down the middle so you can use them like mountaineering skis and skin up the hill instead of shoeing. The Nitro Tour Board and the Voile Split Decision offer the convenience of skinning up and the joy of snowboarding down. If you have ever compared snowshoeing to skinning, it's an option you might consider.

Either way you go, you're going to need poles. They will help you conserve energy and give you better balance on uneven or steep terrain. Adjustables are a must&emdash;go with a three-piece for compactability.

A convenient option on many adjustable poles is a probe conversion. You will (hopefully never) need it for finding avalanche victims and testing snow layers. Convertible probe-poles save weight, but a collapsible snow probe is the quickest, most effective tool.

This brings us to the items essential in your defense against avalanches. The most important item you carry into the backcountry is a transceiver. Unlike the battle of standard vs. metric, the U.S. is currently changing over to the stronger, universal frequency of 457 kHz from 2,275 kHz. There are transceivers that handle both, but unless you have friends with the old frequency go with the single, new frequency. But remember, it will only help you if you know how to use it!

You will also need a shovel for digging snow. There are some small Lexan-bladed units available, but a large metal blade will get the job done easier and is worth its weight if you have to dig anyone out of debris.

Having fun in the backcountry is the easy part. Getting there and staying safe take some work. Go with experienced backcountry travelers, glean all the knowledge you can and spare no expense on life-saving tools. Then come back and tell us about it.